Patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma are characterized by increased frequency of suppressive regulatory T cells in the blood and tumor microenvironment

Author(s):Show less -

Gasparoto, Thais Helena ^[1] ; de Souza Malaspina, Tatiana Salles ^[1] ; Benevides, Luciana ^[2] ; Franco de Melo, Jr., Edgard Jose ^[3] ; Sales Nogueira Costa, Maria Renata ^[3] ; Damante, Jose Humberto ^[4] ; Valerio Ikoma, Maura Rosane ^[5] ; Garlet, Gustavo Pompermaier ^[1] ; Cavassani, Karen Angelica ^[6] ; da Silva, Joao Santana ^[2] ; Campanelli, Ana Paula ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Bauru Dent Sch, Dept Biol Sci, BR-17012901 Bauru, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Biochem & Immunol, BR-14049 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[3] Lauro de Souza Lima Inst, Bauru, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Bauru Dent Sch, Dept Stomatol, BR-17012901 Bauru, SP - Brazil

^[5] Amaral Carvalho Hosp, Jau, SP - Brazil

^[6] Univ Michigan, Sch Med, Dept Pathol, Ann Arbor, MI - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: CANCER IMMUNOLOGY IMMUNOTHERAPY; v. 59, n. 6, p. 819-828, JUN 2010.
• Web of Science Citations: 49

Abstract

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a cancerous lesion with high incidence worldwide. The immunoregulatory events leading to OSCC persistence remain to be elucidated. Our hypothesis is that regulatory T cells (Tregs) are important to obstruct antitumor immune responses in patients with OSCC. In the present study, we investigated the frequency, phenotype, and activity of Tregs from blood and lesions of patients with OSCC. Our data showed that > 80% of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells isolated from PBMC and tumor sites express FoxP3. Also, these cells express surface Treg markers, such as GITR, CD45RO, CD69, LAP, CTLA-4, CCR4, and IL-10. Purified CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells exhibited stronger suppressive activity inhibiting allogeneic T-cell proliferation and IFN-gamma production when compared with CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells isolated from healthy individuals. Interestingly, approximately 25% of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells of PBMC from patients also expressed FoxP3 and, although these cells weakly suppress allogeneic T cells proliferative response, they inhibited IFN-gamma and induced IL-10 and TGF-beta secretion in these co-cultures. Thus, our data show that Treg cells are present in OSCC lesions and PBMC, and these cells appear to suppress immune responses both systemically and in the tumor microenvironment. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 06/04264-9 - The role of Regulatory T cells in the modulation of tumorigenesis of actinic cheilitis and oral squamous cell carcinoma: correlation between clinical behavior and prognosis
• Grantee: Ana Paula Campanelli
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants